University of Virginia Library

Scene XXVI.

Moscon, Livia, and Clarin.
Moscon.
How contentedly to die
They go forth.

Livia.
Much more contented
Are we three to remain alive.

Clarin.
Not much more; for we must settle
Our account now, though I own
The occasion might be better,
And the place too, still 'twere wrong
To neglect the time that's present.

Moscon.
What account pray?

Clarin.
I have been
Absent ...

Livia.
Speak.

Clarin.
The whole of a twelvemonth,
When without my intermission
Moscon in possession held thee.
Now my quota in the business,
If we both have equal measure,
Is that I must have my year.

Livia.
Can it be that I'm suspected
Of thus wronging thee so basely?
Why, I wept whole days together
When it was the day for weeping.

Moscon.
Yes, for I myself was present:
Every day that was not mine
She thy friendship quite respected.

Clarin.
That's a bounce; for not a tear,
When this day her house I entered,
Did she shed, and there I found thee
Sitting with her quite contented.

Livia.
But this day is not a fast.

Clarin.
Yes, it is; for I remember
That the day I went away
Was my day.

Livia.
Oh! that's an error.

Moscon.
Yes, I see how that arises,
This year is a year bissextile,
And our days are now the same.

Clarin.
Well, I'm satisfied, 'tis better
That a man should not too deeply
Pry into such things.—Good heavens!—

[The sound of a great tempest is heard.